Ski-helmet cam creates 'scrapbook in motion'

H e y, m om, did you see that cool jump? That explosion of powder? How I squeezed between those trees? There are moments on the slopes when skiers wish all eyes were on them. But here's the next best thing: helmet cameras, which enable skiers to photograph and videotape their own descents, jumps and tracks to show off later.

Helmet cams have become so ubiquitous that they are "almost the norm" at Steamboat Ski & Resort in Steamboat Springs, Colo. "The cameras take bragging rights to the next level," resort spokeswoman Loryn Kasten said.

Steamboat is even incorporating user content into its own social media and marketing, because the vantage point of the skier or boarder taking video has more impact than the pro cameraman standing at the bottom. The user videos, Kasten says, are a "scrapbook in motion."

A new teen centre at a members-only resort will even have indoor video editing booths and a screening room to play footage and finished films for a crowd.

The teen centre is part of a new lodge at The Hermitage Club at Haystack Mountain in Wilmington, Vt. Hermitage owner and founder Jim Barnes was inspired by the interest of

his own children - ages 16, 14 and 9 - in using the cams.

But the cameras are not just for kids. Barnes recalled a 40-something who took video of 47 runs during a single day last season.

"Each generation pushes other generations to do it. Gen-Xers are sharing, and gen-Yers and Z. There's a push for all of them to use cameras because they're going to share it," said Kelly Davis, director of research for the SnowSports Industries America association.

"Sharing" is the key: The explosion of social media is what has led to the leap in cameras among skiers and boarders - not to mention surfers, skateboarders, rock climbers and mountain bikers.

"The cameras seem to be driving people to do more adventurous things, explore the back country, so they can share it," Davis said. "It's not just ego. But people are aware that they are presenting an image of themselves, and videos of them doing this stuff starts conversations."

Even older skiers who don't use the cameras are watching the footage. "My grandma loves to see the video. She got them for us so she can see us skiing," said Will Coffin, a 13-year-old member of Vermont's Mount Snow race team. "And I don't ski with my parents much, so sometimes I'll show them, too."

His 11-year-old brother Charlie will show them "to anyone who's there after skiing." Most likely his videos are offtrail in the trees, which he thinks makes the best visuals. The Coffin videos will occasionally go on YouTube, and they'll watch the ones their friends make.

Sales of the cameras, like the industry leader GoPro, were up 50 per cent to 123,000 at snow sports retailers for the 2012-13 ski season, SnowSports Industries America says. The trade group expects a higher number for 2013-14, with additional sales at electronics stores and elsewhere that the SIA does not track.

GoPro sells its Hero3+ Black Edition for close to $400 US, but the price hasn't deterred impulse buyers who see others using it and must have one.

"Veteran skiers are looking for the best deal, and might get their GoPro in an off-season sale," Kasten said. "But it's also not far-fetched to say a family will come into one of our retail outlets and tell us, 'We're using our iPhone for video, but we just saw someone else's video"' shot with a GoPro. Often they'll buy one on the spot.

Wing Taylor, 42, who lives in North Vancouver, uses his GoPro mostly to record keepsakes of the days when his children are still mastering the mountains, but he'll also play them on grey fall days to get his son and daughter jazzed for the season.

"I will also share the videos at my kids at work. Who doesn't like an audience to say, 'Look at my kids. They're awesome!' " he said.

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